Event FTW95LA045

Factual narrative

On November 16, 1994, at 0845 central standard time, a Cessna 182P, N5931J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Haskell, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the ferry flight. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector the following information. During preflight of the airplane, water was found in four fuel samples taken from the fuel strainer. On the fifth, sixth, and seventh fuel sample taken, there was no longer any evidence of water. Both main fuel tanks fuel samples did not have any evidence of water. The airplane's engine was started and a run-up was completed. During takeoff initial climb from runway 35, approximately 150 to 200 feet, the engine lost power. A right "S" turn was initiated to lose altitude and conserve runway. During the turn back towards the runway the pilot decided to land on the field west of the runway. The pilot added that "the main gear first contacted the ground 150 feet from the western tree line. Breaking on the wet grass was ineffective and in a matter of seconds the plane impacted the tree line." According to the FAA inspector, the airplane had an annual inspection completed on November 15, 1994, during which both fuel caps and cap adapters had been replaced. While this maintenance was being accomplished, the airplane was parked outside of the hangar when actual work was not being performed, with the fuel caps and cap adapters not installed. Prior to the FAA inspector's arrival at the accident site, the operator had drained the fuel from the airplane. There was no report of water being found in the fuel. The engine was displaced to the right and the left wing was bent aft. This was the first flight since the annual inspection. Examination of the airplane and engine by the FAA inspector did not disclose any mechanical anomalies; however, approximately 4 ounces of water was drained from the carburetor bowl and gascolator. DURING TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB FROM RUNWAY 35, APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 200 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON THE FIELD WEST OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT 'THE MAIN GEAR FIRST CONTACTED THE GROUND 150 FEET FROM THE WESTERN TREE LINE. BRAKING ON THE WET GRASS WAS INEFFECTIVE AND IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE PLANE IMPACTED THE TREE LINE.' THE AIRPLANE HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION COMPLETED ON NOVEMBER 15, 1994, DURING WHICH BOTH FUEL CAPS AND CAP ADAPTERS HAD BEEN REPLACED. WHILE THIS MAINTENANCE WAS BEING ACCOMPLISHED, THE AIRPLANE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE HANGAR WHEN ACTUAL WORK WAS NOT BEING PERFORMED, WITH THE FUEL CAPS AND CAP ADAPTERS NOT INSTALLED. DURING PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE FOR THE FIRST FLIGHT SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE PILOT FOUND WATER IN FOUR FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE FUEL STRAINER. ON THE FIFTH, SIXTH, AND SEVENTH FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY EVIDENCE OF WATER. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE BY THE FAA INSPECTOR, APPROXIMATELY 4 OUNCES OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE CARBURETOR BOWL AND GASCOLATOR. THE ENGINE WAS DISPLACED AND THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12